About Us:  The Firm

Blethen Mining Associates, PC  was founded in 2006.  That makes us a very young firm.  We are a mining engineering firm with a fresh perspective. Our focus is on the mining industry delivering state of the art technical engineering support to all phases of your operation from exploration to site reclamation, surface and underground mining, domestic and international.

• Estimation & evaluation of resources & reserves

• Mine permitting

• Mineral appraisals

• Mine planning & design

• Evaluation & design of ground control

• Design & evaluation of process flow

• Legal & safety concerns

• Mine Ventilation design

• Coordination of all engineering fields

• Expert witness testimony

• Reclamation plans

• Exploration

We provide the  small to medium sized mining company the same level of expertise usually only available to larger mining concerns.  And if you are a large corporation Blethen Mining Associates, PC gives you a local presence augmenting your in house engineering staff.

We bring a fresh perspective to the equation.  We aren't focused on maintaining bricks and mortar.  And, our fees and approach to how we do business reflects that. 

Every mining concern has it's eye on the bottom line & we understand that.  We bring state of the art technical know how to the equation and offer services to a variety of sizes and classifications of mines in varied industries.

Our Knowledge is Your Best Asset

If you're like most mining operations, you've been using the services of a civil engineer instead of a mining engineer for years.  But things are changing.  There are more pressures than ever before in the regulatory environment.  Agencies that oversee mining operations are becoming more demanding and more sophisticated.  You need someone who can guide you through the regulatory maze and keep your operations compliant.

"An experienced mining engineer will save you time, money, and regulatory hassles."

What's more, mining technology is getting more complicated all of the time.  To stay competitive, you need to have the options to use better techniques and science to make the most of your resources.  A mining engineer brings the technical knowledge you need specifically related to your industry.  An experienced mining engineer will save you time, money, and regulatory hassles.

Mining Engineer vs. Civil Engineer: Who fits into the mining equation?

Civil engineers have been preparing site plans for the mining industry for years even though mining and mining related technical issues fall outside of the parameters of their purview. Why?

Civil Engineers can prepare site plans for infrastructure, housing developments and other situations.  Quite often clients associate the site plan approval process with the function of a civil engineer. As if the process of site plan approval requires the involvement of a civil engineer. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Engineering, like many other applied sciences, has many disciplines.  Mining, civil, chemical, structural, mechanical and electrical are some of the specialized fields of engineering.  However, each deals specifically with a core knowledge of technical training and information making each a specialized field of engineering.  Using a civil engineer to prepare your site plans as a part of your overall permitting process can be compared to a patient with a headache going to a podiatrist.

A mining engineer can prepare your site plan and provide you with  technical input on where to mine and how to  maximize on your reserves. 

The technical differences...

Civil engineering consists of the application of scientific principles to the design, construction, and maintenance of public and private works that constitute the infrastructure for human populations.  What does that mean?Well, a civil engineer designs public infrastructure. 

Mining engineering includes a wide variety of mining technologies and engineering sciences devoted to the extraction or separation of the various mineral products – fuels, metals, and nonmetals.  Separation of these minerals from the ground requires knowledge of the adaptation of equipment, manpower, and economics, and the application of reclamation, environmental control, legal, social, and administrative talents.  Mining engineering is the coordination of all engineering fields and the administrative talents employed in extracting these materials from the earth, and making them available economically.

A Mining Engineer Provides Efficient, Cost-effective Solutions

Sand, aggregates, coal, fire clay, kaolin, novaculite, quartz, precious metals, magnesite, bauxite, graphite and industrial minerals mining, including hydraulic fracturing sand (Frac Sand) for the oil and gas well stimulation industry.

You'll find that using a mining engineer will save you time and money.  We help make your job easier.  Our experience allows us to anticipate potential opportunities as well as problems, and get you positioned for both.

Blethen Mining Associates Offers You Vast Mining Specific Knowledge

Mining is different from any other industry.  And a mining engineer is different from any other engineer.  Blethen Mining Associates understands your special challenges -- and brings you economical solutions.

We offer you mining specific expertise for the whole life cycle of your mine, from exploration to site reclamation.  And most of all, we know how to use technology and engineering solutions to increase your profitability. 

Blethen Mining Associates, PC contracted as Project Engineer and Project Manager for new sand processing plant in Texas.